Meraki* (MaiChard Fanfic)

Chapter 6 - A Little Bit

03 October 2015

Dear RJ,

I don't think I ever told you this but...ang ganda pala ng boses mo? I know, I know. I've heard you sing more than once (promise!) but it never seems to get old. The thing is, I couldn't care less if you are a singer or if you were something else entirely. I only cared about the fact that you poured your heart into that song. Masaya ako na medyo nakasabay ako sa iyo! Hehe.

Well, uhm, so about the cupcakes I gave you on Thursday. Ispluk ko na ba? Or would you rather not know? Oh well, wala ka namang magagawa kung sasabihin ko. I just want to let you know that I haven't done in a long, long, long (basta sobrang haba) time since I don't get to do it that much because of work. When I was thinking about the instructions that were given to us, I just thought that it would be the perfect time to use my baking skills (though quite mediocre) as a way to show you how grateful I am to you. Sana nagustuhan mo talaga iyung gawa ko.

So, ayun na nga. Pero hindi ko inakala na may pasabog ka rin! The handwritten letter was a welcomed surprise though I am having mixed feelings at the moment because of it. Medyo maarte lang ako. But the truth is, I am feeling happy and a little giddy. Happy because I never thought that we would come this far. Giddy because I honestly didn't expect to receive anything from you let alone a heartfelt letter. Everything was supposed to be pretend. But it's not. I really think it's not.

Oh! I'm a little confused because I kept on thinking that maybe everything is too fast. Maybe I am unintentionally expecting too much. Maybe it shouldn't be this way. Maybe I should stop thinking like this. Or maybe I should just stay in bed and forget all about this. Just kidding. Para lang talaga akong manghuhula ngayon!

There are really so many things going on in my head (medyo obvious sa dami ng sinulat ko) right now and life's been pretty hectic. But I'm not complaining. Someday, I'll be able to catch up on sleep that I missed. Maybe I'll go to a beach resort somewhere at the South or New York. Who knows what will happen in the next few months, right? Still, I can't just think about what I should do except write a letter for you. Oh, 'di ba? Masipag naman ako right now!

I wanted to ask you something when we saw each other a while ago though I didn't get the chance. What if none of these ever happened? What if I didn't see you on the other side of the screen? Will I ever meet you? Will I ever be happy? Will I still see the world as I see it now? It's funny and amazing how I am now equating the word 'happy' with you. I guess a lot of things have changed in my life and you (aside from my family, of course) have been with me every step of the way.

Honestly, I couldn't be thankful enough. I may not be able to say these words out loud (at least, for now) but please know that this will never change. I wouldn't be where I am right now (slightly ecstatic and a little optimistic) if not for the bedimpled actor (naks! haha) who smiled at me. I'm still feeling a little mortified about my reaction though. Hindi ko talaga napigilan. Kasi naman, hindi talaga uso ang orientation sa atin. Bigla na lang akong napalingon and then boom!

But enough about me. Are you happy though? I mean, really happy? I have noticed that you seem you to smile more than usual. I watched your old interviews (yes, marami akong time kapag madaling araw) and you seemed too serious back then. I also noticed how your eyes will disappear and how your dimples will deepen whenever you laugh at a joke or interact with JoWaPao during Kalyeserye. Sana napapasaya rin kita tulad nila. I mean, ang galing galing kasi nila! Ang hirap sumabay, I swear. Haha

Anyway, hope you have a great weekend! I'm really happy that we started the month with a smile! :)

- Meng

***

04 October 2015

"Maybe it's you...," she sang to herself. "I'm thinking of..."

Her younger brother Dean looked up from his iPad, puzzled at the way she is acting. May topak na naman ba itong si Ate? Tatlong oras na niyang paulit-ulit na kinakanta ang kantang iyan. Medyo nakakaasar na.

"It's you I'm wishing for who'll be with me tonight...maybe it's you all my life," she continued singing.

Dean cleared his throat loudly. "Ate."

She ignored him.

"Ano ba, ate Menggay!"

She stopped singing and turned to him. "Bakit? Ayaw mo ba ng boses ko? Judger ka talaga!"

"Ate, may pinagdadaanan ka ba? Kasi kanina ka pa kumakanta niyan..."

She looked at him, confused and unsure. "Ha? Wala naman. Feel ko lang talagang kantahin. Nakaka-relate ako eh."

Nakaka-relate? Bakit in love ba siya? Love song iyan eh. Teka...

A smug grin crossed Dean's face.

"Sure ka, Ate? Ramdam mo talaga iyung kanta?"

Maine knitted her brows in response. "Oo, bakit?"

"Ibig sabihin, in love ka?" He asked laughing.

"Ikaw ha, nahahawa ka na kay Coleen!"

"Nagtatanong lang ako, Ate! Grabe ka sa akin," Dean said affronted. "Bakit? HIndi ba totoo? Hindi ka in love?"

"Hindi!"

"Weh? Maging kasing taba mo man si Coleen?"

"Oo! I swear," she said laughingly.

Hmm. Talaga lang ha? Sige nga, subukan natin kung hindi ka nga in love.

"Okay," he responded. "May tanong pala ako sa iyo."

"Ano na naman iyan?"

"Na-experience mo na ba iyung nakita mo lang iyung isang tao tapos bigla ka na lang ngingiti? Iyung tipong lagi mo siyang naiisip o 'di kaya hinahanap? O Naramdaman mo na ba iyun, Ate?"

"What?" Maine asked.

"Sagutin mo na lang kasi tanong ko."

She sighed deeply, looking at the corner of the room. "I never really thought about it."

"Ibig sabihin ba nito, hindi ka in love kay Alden? Aktingan lang talaga ang lahat ng nangyayari sa Kalyeserye?"

"Hindi ako in love kay RJ!" She immediately denied.

Maine immediately covered her mouth, her eyes wide.

RJ? Sino si...ay teka. Iyun ba tunay na nickname ni Alden? Search ko nga mamaya.

He remained silent.

"Iyung sa Kalyeserye...," she started. "Feeling ko noon, aktingan lang talaga. Pero ngayon, may something something na eh. Feeling ko lang though."

She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. "Basta, ang hirap i-explain kung ano nangyayari. Ang alam ko lang, masaya ako. Sana masaya rin si Alden."

"Paanong masaya?"

"Sa mga nangyayari sa buhay niya ngayon. Kasi ang alam ko...marami siyang tinanggihan na trabaho dahil sa akin. Ang hirap nga eh. Hindi ko alam kung paano susuklian iyun. "

"Eh 'di sabihin mo na keep the change!"

"Hay nako, ewan ko sa iyo! Seryoso kasi ako," Maine said. "Paano kung hindi pala enough iyung efforts ko? Magiging masaya pa rin ba siya?"

Dean shook his head, amused. For a brief moment, he wondered how dense and unassuming his sister was. He can clearly see that she was falling for the man who made her smile last July.

Ayaw lang aminin ni Ate dahil papebe siya. 

***

A/N: I don't think I'll ever get tired of saying this. Thank you for continuing to read Meraki! :)